LONGITUDINAL MAGNETORESISTANCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR SUPERLATTICES

We present a calculation of the longitudinal magnetoresistance of a semiconductor superlattice where both the electric and magnetic field are applied parallel to the growth axis. We use a Boltzmann-like equation to describe the transport along the growth axis. However, we include the magnetic field in the quantum Hamiltonian, and thus our approach is valid into the regime where there is only one Landau level below the Fermi energy. An analytic expression for the magnetoresistance is first developed and then calculations for specific models are presented. We discuss the various regimes of behavior and show that in a superlattice it should be possible to observe a variety of interesting phenomena, including bulklike Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations and sharp resistance resonances. © 1995 The American Physical Society.